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Ghana 1-1 Australia

Sometimes in life, you just have to put the past behind you and move on. Friday 18 June is consigned to the history books - it’s all about Saturday 19 June now. I’m Jonathan Stevenson and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of welcoming you to the wonderful city of Johannesburg, South Africa.

14:25Commentary

Let’s get involved in the 25th match of the 2010 World Cup, shall we? The only African winners in the first round of games, Ghana, take on the team who were handed the biggest drubbing – Australia. The venue is the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Call it instinct, but I've a feeling you might have things on your mind today. Don't bottle it all up - let rip, I can promise you'll feel better. There's a 606 page up and running, Tweet me @Stevo_football and send texts to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide).

14:35CommentaryGhana v Australia team news:

Ghana have been forced into two changes at the back by injuries to captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah, with Lee Addy and 19-year-old defender Jonathan Mensah (no relation) stepping in. Harry Kewell will lead the Australia attack for their must-win Group D clash. The former Liverpool forward’s call-up is one of four changes by coach Pim Verbeek to the side that lost 4-0 to Germany in their opening match. David Carney replaces left-back Scott Chipperfield, Mark Bresciano replaces the injured Vince Grella and Brett Holman comes in for the suspended Tim Cahill.

606

From redandblackT: "Time for the Socceroos to show that they are not as bad a football team as the Germans made them out to be."

14:41Commentary

These two have played six times before, with Australia winning four of them, perhaps surprisingly. One of these friendlies was actually played in South Africa, on 14 September 1996, when goals from Damien Mori and Paul Trimboli earned the Socceroos a 2-0 victory.

SMS

Emmanuel Asiamah, Kumasi, Ghana: "It’s gonna be very difficult with Mensah and Vorsah missing at the back, but I hope we are gonna win by two or three goals to nil."

14:46CommentaryGhana's Kevin-Prince Boateng:

“It is like a big, big family, the Ghana squad. I've not been here a long time but I already can say I'm a family member. There's a lot of love in the team. We pray a lot, so there is a fantastic spirit. We try to take that spirit on the pitch so everyone is there for each other.”

14:48CommentaryAustralia captain Lucas Neill:

“We are driven by failure. We are driven by the fear of not winning a game and not getting out of this group. We got together after the Germany game and said we are not going to go out with a fizzle.”

ContributorBBC Sport's Alan Hansen

"I've watched Steven Gerrard for a very long time and you cannot play him out on the left, it stifles him and when he comes inside, which he always will do, it unbalances the side. He has got to play just off Wayne Rooney - let him go where he wants."

ContributorBBC Sport's Alan Hansen

"I think the biggest worry for Fabio Capello is Wayne Rooney. If his display last night was the result of a long, hard season at Manchester United, then he's not coming back from it."

Twitter

From ploasd: "Don't care if Australia happen to lose, all I want is for them to show some heart. They are not that bad."

14:55IT'S SUNNY

The teams emerge into the sunshine at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and we're about to listen to the national anthems of Ghana and Australia.

14:57Commentary

The super-confident Kevin-Prince Boateng winks at the camera as it works its way down the line of Ghana players and after Advance Australia Fair we are moments away from kick-off.

15:00KICK-OFFGhana v Australia

This is the 100th match an African nation has played in the World Cup and Australia have the honour of getting us under way.

ContributorBBC Sport's Mark Bright

"Ghana have two very inexperienced players at centre-back today, so they will need their full-backs to help them out a bit. It's such a crucial position."

2 minsCommentary

Harry Kewell goes down in the Ghana box after a coming together with Lee Addy, but referee Roberto Rosetti waves play on.

4 minsCommentary

Good, confident start from Australia, keen to dictate the tempo of the game early on. They must be desperate to prove they aren't as bad as that 4-0 drubbing by Germany suggests.

6 minsCommentary

First sighter for Ghana, but Kevin-Prince Boateng drags a shot wide from about 30 yards. He's got 'Prince' on the back of his shirt.

SMS

From Ben, Manchester: "I've been trying to work this out since Ghana played Serbia and it's really starting to bug me... Why does Pantsil have one long sleeve and one short sleeve?!"

10 minsCommentary

Ghana are having a better spell now and they force their first corner of the game, but it doesn't clear the first man, one of the most frustrating things to see of all when you're watching football.

11 minsCommentary

Promising run forward from Carl Valeri for Australia and he is brought down about 28 yards away from the Ghana goal. Surely someone fancies this...

11 minsGOALGhana 0-1 Australia

They probably just about deserve it for a decent start, but it's another goalkeeping howler. Mark Bresciano's right-foot shot bounces in front of Richard Kingson and he can only block it into the path of Brett Holman, who taps in from close-range.

ContributorBBC Sport's Mark Bright

"The bounce caused the goalkeeper a problem, but he will have wanted to see his defenders getting in there first and they were nowhere to be seen."

16 minsCommentary

The goal looks like it has just affected Ghana, coming as it did at a time when they were starting to get a foothold in the game. Will be interesting to see how they play it from now on - if it finishes like this, then every team in Group D will have won one and lost one.

19 minsCommentary

There's an awful lot of canary yell- sorry, Australian gold in the crowd, good support for the Socceroos after their 4-0 battering by Germany. They are playing well today, looking more comfortable on the ball and more dangerous up front too.

20 minsCommentary

Better from Ghana as Andre Ayew fires in a left-foot shot from the edge of the Australian area and it takes a deflection off Craig Moore before going behind for a corner.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"Just looking around the stadium it's disappointing to see so many empty seats. This is the World Cup, surely Fifa, or somebody, should have addressed this situation. You want as many people as possible to see it. There are obviously a lot of people who would want to come but can't get tickets or the tickets are too expensive."

World Cup Have Your Say

From James Kip'Kasis on WCHYS: "One game with much vuvuzeling... seems vuvuzelas are not doing us any good, we need divine intervention, down by a goal!"

24 minsCommentary

Much, much better from Ghana as Asamoah Gyan's shot is deflected over.

24 minsPENALTYTo Ghana

24 minsRED CARDHarry Kewell (Australia)

25 minsGOALGhana 1-1 Australia

That might be the turning point of the game - and the competition for both teams. A Ghana cross from the right finds Jonathan Mensah and his goalbound shot hits Harry Kewell on the line. It seems to hit a combination of his chest and right arm and Italian referee Roberto Rosetti points to the spot and shows Kewell a straight red. Asamoah Gyan steps up and confidently slots home the penalty. Do the Americans call that a 'game-changer'?

28 minsCommentary

Harry Kewell has lingered off the pitch for a long time, remonstrating with anyone who will listen. Eventually a Fifa official leads him off down the tunnel and into the dressing-room. His World Cup lasted 24 minutes.

31 minsCommentary

Horrible decision for the referee to have to make, but once Roberto Rosetti has decided it was a penalty, he had no option but to send Harry Kewell off. I wonder whether Australia can bounce back from that hammer blow.

606

From eirebilly: "Kewell couldn't get his arm out of the way as it was positively smashed at him. The letter of the law says red card. It's not harsh it's just unlucky."

34 minsCommentary

Australia have had 56% of the possession so far, but it's a safe bet that will come down now they have only 10 men. Ghana are buzzing, but there's a long way to go in this one yet.

36 minsCommentary

Free-kick given away in a dangerous position by Craig Moore, bringing down Kwadwo Asamoah about 22 yards out, very central.

37 minsCommentary

Kwadwo Asamoah takes it left-footed and lazy and it hits the wall. Some of the free-kick taking remains abject at this tournament.

Twitter

From nanaloa2001:"Actually, there was a case for two penalties. A player was brought down before the ball struck Kewell's arm. Any more doubts?"

40 minsYELLOW CARD

The referee flashes a yellow card in the direction of Ghana's Lee Addy for a reckless lunge from behind on Mark Bresciano.

42 minsCommentary

Kevin-Prince Boateng sends over two decent crosses from the Ghana right, but the first one is cleared and the second plucked from the air by Mark Schwarzer.

44 minsCommentary

Brilliant football. Kevin-Prince Boateng wins the ball back for Ghana just inside the Australian half and surges towards goal - he hits a goalbound right-foot drive that is heading for the bottom corner until Mark Schwarzer gets down superbly to tip it behind. The referee give a goalkick - makes you wonder sometimes.

15:45HALF-TIMEGhana 1-1 Australia

The Aussies are not a happy bunch as Roberto Rosetti blows the whistle for half-time in Rustenburg. Ghana stay on the pitch for a huddle before returning to the dressing-room.

ContributorBBC Sport's Emmanuel Adebayor

"After Ghana got back into the game they played quite well but they had started slowly. Ghana know now that they have one chance to get to the last 16 - and that chance is now."

15:51Commentary

Meanwhile it is all kicking off in the French camp. Down-but-not-quite-out yet, striker Nicolas Anelka missed training on Saturday after reports of a bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech. Keep you posted on that one.

ContributorBBC Sport's Jurgen Klinsmann

"This game is there for the taking for Ghana, but I wouldn't write off Australia yet. A man down, they might just think they should go for it."

SMS

From AG: "To Ben in Manchester (see earlier): I’m at the match. Pantsil has a short-sleeved shirt and a long undershirt rolled down on one arm only."

606

From salamsm: "Kewell should know that once you are defending on the goal line, your hands should not be within sight of making a possible contact with the ball. The laws state that once a goalscoring opportunity has been denied by a player with his hands, a red card should be given as well as a penalty. Definitely a penalty and unfortunately a red card as well."

16:00Commentary

Back under way at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, it's Ghana 1-1 Australia at the break.

ContributorBBC Sport's Mark Bright

"I think we might see a change of pace from Ghana in the second half, they might play a bit quicker and put Australia under more pressure."

47 minsCommentary

Kwadwo Asamoah lets fly from about 30 yards and his left-foot shot sails wide. Not afraid to shoot though, the Ghanaians.

50 minsCommentary

Breaking news: A French Football Federation official says Nicolas Anelka has been expelled from their World Cup squad.

51 minsCommentary

Asamoah Gyan comes in from the Ghana left and curls a shot goalwards that Mark Schwarzer saves low down to his left. Good signal of their intent at the start of the half from the African side.

Twitter

From thomavenel:"Word here in France is that several players are ready to come back home today. The Anelka story just the tip of the iceberg."

54 minsCommentary

Bit better from Australia as they force a corner on the right, but Ghana clear their lines. The Socceroos need to take advantage of every set-piece they get in this half.

55 minsCommentary

Kwadwo Asamoah does like to shoot, that much is certain. Another from a ludicrous distance is deflected into the arms of Mark Schwarzer. Will take something pretty special to beat the Fulham keeper from there.

56 minsSUBSTITUTION

Prince Tagoe is hauled off by Ghana, with former Arsenal striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie coming on in his place.

58 minsCommentary

Another set-piece for the Aussies but Craig Moore is under pressure and can only head wide from Luke Wilkshire's free-kick.

606

From mhla200: "Ghana are annoying me now, why not use the extra man instead of trying to shoot from the halfway line?"

62 minsCommentary

The noise in Rustenburg ramps up a notch for a Ghana free-kick, but it's easily headed away by Craig Moore. I think the Aussies would probably take a point right now, but they might fancy nicking three late on if they can keep Ghana out.

63 minsCommentary

Now it's Kevin-Prince Boateng's turn to shoot wide - this time from about 40 yards. What a waste of everyone's time.

65 minsCommentary

They are just trying to win it on their own, the Ghana players. Kwadwo Asamoah does really well to burst into space outside the Australia half, but he doesn't even look for where his team-mates are - he just shoots at a defender.

66 minsSUBSTITUTION

Australia send on Scott Chipperfield for Mark Bresciano.

67 minsCommentary

That's a real chance, that. Australia work the ball well down the right and Luke Wilkshire sends over a fine cross to the back post where Scott Chipperfield gets up well only to head over.

67 minsCommentary

It's end-to-end now. Ghana go straight up the other end and Asamoah Gyan fires over a cross from the right - it beats Mark Schwarzer in the six-yard box, but Kwadwo Asamoah cannot quite touch it in at the far post.

68 minsCommentary

Striker Josh Kennedy comes on for Australia in place of their goalscorer Brett Holman.

Twitter

From pieniupieva: "I still believe in the Australians. They seem to be holding on quite strongly. Just hope they don't get too tired in the end."

71 minsCommentary

Chance, shot, wide. Kevin-Prince Boateng slips a lovely pass in for Asamoah Gyan (see what can be done?) but he gets his angles wrong from 14 yards and slices a left-foot effort wide.

73 minsCommentary

What an unbelievable chance for Australia. Luke wilkshire is played through on the right of the area and his low shot brings a fabulous save from Richard Kingson, with Josh Kennedy only able to hit the rebound into the floor for Kingson to gather.

ContributorBBC Sport's Mark Bright

"It's been so slow their play, Ghana, they've never upped the pace and had a real go and they've allowed Australia in the game too much."

77 minsSUBSTITUTION

Ghana take Kwadwo Asamoah off and send on Sulley Muntari.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"The problem the Ghanaians have is that they can't use their pace and power because the Australians are sitting deep. They need Australia to start attacking, which they are starting to do, so the gaps may open up. Australia are giving it everything."

79 minsYELLOW CARD

You know what? This is another enthralling game of football. The 10 men of Australia have been magnificent since Harry Kewell's early sending off, but can they hold out? Or can they go and win it? Jonathan Mensah is booked for a foul on Scott Chipperfield and Australia have a free-kick about 25 yards out.

80 minsCommentary

Brett Emerton fires it in, but it's about five yards too high and Richard Kingson watches it go over.

SMS

Ciaran, Dublin: "France have shown a complete lack of interest in this World Cup. If they want to come home that’s fine with me... is it too late for Ireland to take the spot that was rightfully theirs in the first place?"

84 minsCommentary

Anthony Annan is booked for a foul on Scott Chipperfield - since the subs, the Socceroos have been on top. Meanwhile, I just got a text from an English girl in Sydney supporting Australia - you know who you are, Kirsty. Not sure that should be allowed. Luke Wilkshire is replaced by Nikita Rukavytsya.

ContributorBBC Sport's Mark Bright

"Full credit to Australia - they have really hung in there and now they are having a go at winning this game."

86 minsYELLOW CARD

The Australians are the ones making the noise in Rustenburg - they fancy they can still win this game. There's some pinball inside the Ghana box, but nothing comes of it. Craig Moore has been booked for the Aussies, while Ghana bring on Matthew Amoah for Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has faded badly.

88 minsCommentary

Ghana look rattled, big time. Nikita Rukavytsya tries to divert a cross from the Australian left goalwards, but Richard Kingson is brave and the Ghana keeper does well to prevent the ball going in.

CommentaryEngland striker Wayne Rooney:

"Last night, on reflection I said things in the heat of the moment that came out of frustration of both our performance and the result. For my part I apologise for any offence caused by my actions at the end of the game."

90 minsINJURY TIME

Good chance, but this time for Ghana. Sulley Muntari swings over a free-kick from the left and it is met by Jonathan Mensah at the back post - he can only nod it wide. We're into three minutes of stoppage time now.

90 minsCommentary

A corner is half-cleared by Australia and from 25 yards Quincy Owusu-Abeyie forces Mark Schwarzer to tip over. From the corner, Sulley Muntari fires over the top. Ghana have had 22 shots to Australia's seven today.

90 minsCommentary

John Pantsil is in some trouble here - he went up for a header but looked like he headed the back of a team-mate AND was headed from behind by Josh Kennedy. There is claret all over his sleeve and he will be stretchered off. Let's hope he's OK.

16:50FULL-TIMEGhana 1-1 Australia

That brings to an end another fine game of football - Ghana are on four points in Group D now, Australia have one, but the Socceroos produced a determined display there after playing with 10 men for more than an hour.

ContributorBBC Sport's Alan Hansen

"Ghana certainly had more of the chances, but Australia probably had the better ones in that second half."

ContributorBBC Sport's Emmanuel Adebayor

"I think Ghana have put themselves in a very difficult situation now because they are playing a Germany team who need to win in their last game."

606

From 606commentator: "Both teams look disappointed with that result. Australia will be thinking what might have been had they finished with 11 players, whilst Ghana will also be rueing a missed opportunity."

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"Fair play to Australia, they defended well and they had a right good go. They thoroughly deserve a point out of that and it keeps them in the tournament which is great for them. Ghana, on the other hand... well, if I was Germany I would just defend deep against them."

17:00CommentaryAustralia coach Pim Verbeek:

"The players had to work very hard and that's what they did. We had an unbelievable chance to win it, but I'm very proud of the players."

What did Carlo Ancelotti say to his players after they won the Premier League and FA Cup Double?! Anyway, enough of that harmless fun, I'll see you in a little while for a bit of Cameroon v Japan. Boy could they both do with winning that one. Laters.

By Sam Sheringham

Australia overcame the first-half dismissal of Harry Kewell to battle for a draw against Ghana that keeps their slim hopes of reaching the World Cup second round alive.

The Socceroos, hammered 4-0 by Germany in their opening Group D game, took an early lead through Brett Holman before former Liverpool forward Kewell was shown a straight red for a handball on the goal-line and Asamoah Gyan slotted home his second penalty of the tournament.

But an inexperienced Ghana side struggled against 10 men, showing limited imagination and resorting to shot after shot from long range.

And it was Australia who came closest to winning the match when Luke Wilkshire failed to beat Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Kingston when clean through on goal.

It was an impressive display from the Australians who had been lambasted by their national press after a meek opening performance and suffered the hammer blow of having a key man sent off for the second game in a row.

The Socceroos could still emulate their 2006 effort of reaching last 16 in South Africa if they defeat Serbia in their final game on Wednesday, while Ghana need only a point against the Germans to advance.

While injuries to captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah forced Ghana boss Milan Rajevac to field an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Lee Addy and Jonathan Mensah, under-fire Australia coach Pim Verbeek made four changes to the side that lost to Germany with Kewell called in to lead the attack.

And Kewell was immediately in the thick of the action, going down twice inside the area in the first 10 minutes but seeing both his penalty appeals turned down by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti.

The Socceroos had reason to thank the official shortly afterwards when he awarded the free-kick from which they took the lead.

Mark Bresciano's 30-yard strike bounced awkwardly in front of Kingston, but the keeper should have done more than just parrying the ball straight in front of him. Holman reacted quickest to clip the loose ball into the top corner.

Kingston has played more for his country than his club in the last four years and his sloppy work provided another page in the catalogue of goalkeeping gaffes at this World Cup.

Ghana, the only African team to win at the tournament so far, reacted with a series of pacy attacks and they did not have to wait long for their equaliser.

Andre Ayew showed great determination to work some space for himself on the byline and produce a measured cut-back to Mensah, whose powerful goalbound shot struck Kewell on the arm.

Kewell protested that the ball had hit his chest and implored the referee to watch the replay on the big screen but when the incident was shown again it entirely vindicated the decision to award a penalty and show the Australia frontman a red card.

Gyan sent Socceroos keeper Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from the spot.

The Black Stars initially made the most of their extra man, using the full width of the pitch to stretch Australia, and Rajevac's men could have gone ahead shortly before half-time.

Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng worked his way into the box and unleashed a right-footed shot that was brilliantly tipped around the post by Schwarzer, who had to be at his best once again shortly after the break to claw away a curler from Gyan.

Ghana seemed to lose their way as the game wore on, running out of ideas and firing speculative shots from distance which were often embarrassingly off target.

The Africans' profligacy seemed to awaken their opponents' senses to the possibility that they could still win the game and the Socceroos came close on two occasions.

First Scott Chipperfield headed over the bar, and then Wilkshire found acres of space in the box, but his shot was smothered by Kingston, who was on hand to gather Josh Kennedy's follow-up effort.

But Ghana ended the game the stronger side with Mensah heading over from Sulley Muntari's cross and Schwarzer pulling off a one-handed save to keep out Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's long-range strike.

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